# Why does my stove light by itself, and should I be running away now?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-stove-light-by-itself-and-should-i-be-running-away-now/348495
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 15, 2006, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-stove-light-by-itself-and-should-i-be-running-away-now/348495 "2006-03-15T18:39:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@myrnajean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myrnajean)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2006, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-stove-light-by-itself-and-should-i-be-running-away-now/348495/1 "2006-03-15T18:39:13Z")
I have a relatively new Kenmore stove from Sears. I bought it about 2 years ago.
I was in the kitchen last week when I took a day off work, the house was nice and quiet, and all the sudden _poof_ the oven comes on!
I stood there for a minute going “hey… wait a minute, I didn’t just turn that on, did I?..” then after about 1-2 minutes it went back out.
Since then, I’ve noticed that it does this periodically. It just comes on for a minute or two, then shuts itself back off. It’s not a self cleaning oven or anything (I don’t know if that would make a difference). Any ideas whats going on?
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### Author:  [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2006, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-stove-light-by-itself-and-should-i-be-running-away-now/348495/2 "2006-03-15T19:02:01Z")
Still have the owner’s manual? Good place to start. Otherwise call the mfg. and ask for guidance. You should have the model number ready when you call, you also might want to see if you have any record of when it was purchased, CC transaction on your old bills, cancelled check?
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### Author:  [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2006, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-stove-light-by-itself-and-should-i-be-running-away-now/348495/3 "2006-03-15T19:09:47Z")
I’m assuming from your description that this is a gas oven. I think the first thing you should do is have a qualified service person check for gas leaks in your fittings. You may be sitting on a time bomb.
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### Author:  [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-stove-light-by-itself-and-should-i-be-running-away-now/348495/4 "2006-03-15T19:45:06Z")
Were you near it shortly before it turned itself on? Possibly you managed to activate the Sabbath mode? (turns on after a random delay)
Otherwise, it sounds like your range is the opposite of mine. It would randomly turn the oven off while baking. Solution was to have the main control board replaced. If you’re out of warranty, it’s nearly as expensive as buying a new range.
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### Author:  [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)
#### Post date: [March 15, 2006, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-stove-light-by-itself-and-should-i-be-running-away-now/348495/5 "2006-03-15T22:01:39Z")
Our old oven used to do that.
We then noticed that the oven clock, which had never worked before, was working.
And the oven timer started working too. :eek:
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### Author:  [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2006, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-stove-light-by-itself-and-should-i-be-running-away-now/348495/6 "2006-03-16T01:16:50Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#):
>
> Possibly you managed to activate the Sabbath mode? (turns on after a random delay).
Is there really such a thing or am I being whooshed?
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### Author:  [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2006, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-stove-light-by-itself-and-should-i-be-running-away-now/348495/7 "2006-03-16T01:19:07Z")
> [@Rysdad](#):
>
> Is there really such a thing or am I being whooshed?
Yeah there is, however whether it is actually allowed during the sabbath is still disputed, if I remember correctly.
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### Author:  [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2006, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-stove-light-by-itself-and-should-i-be-running-away-now/348495/8 "2006-03-16T01:39:53Z")
Oh, I’ve read an entire article about the sabbath mode on appliances. There’s dispute among orthodox jews apparently as to how much “work” you can do on the sabbath. Some are fine with setting their ovens to come on at some random time in the future and cook so hot for so long, or whatever. Personally, it really seems hair-splitting to me…
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### Author:  [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2006, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-stove-light-by-itself-and-should-i-be-running-away-now/348495/9 "2006-03-16T01:51:24Z")
Here’s a thread on the [Oven “Sabbath Feature.”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=293661&highlight=sabbath+oven)
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### Author:  [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2006, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-my-stove-light-by-itself-and-should-i-be-running-away-now/348495/10 "2006-03-16T17:44:38Z")
If you’d like to fix it yourself, go to [www.repairclinic.com](http://www.repairclinic.com) They have a huge database. You look up your brand and model, and a series of troubleshooting questions will help you figure out what’s broken. Then, of course, they’ll sell you the part and tell you how to do it.
I fixed my stove and dryer with their help.